Spa fixture lighting system

ABSTRACT

A spa fixture lighting system assembly includes a wall-fitting nut having a threaded inner circumferential portion and an interior radial seat, and a light source disposed on a light source seat selected from the group consisting of the interior radial seat, an exterior radial sidewall of the wall-fitting nut, or an exterior circumferential sidewall of the wall-fitting nut.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of Nonprovisional patent applicationSer. No. 16/160,662 filed Oct. 15, 2018, which is a continuation ofNonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 14/666,159 filed Mar. 23,2015, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,145,523 on Dec. 4, 2018, whichclaims priority to and benefit of Provisional Patent Application No.61/969,740 filed Mar. 24, 2014, the contents of all of which are herebyincorporated by reference herein for all purposes.

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention

This invention relates to lighting systems, and more particularly to spafixture lighting systems.

Description of the Related Art

Spa designers and manufacturers may provide useful lighting for spacontrol panels, water features and the interior seating area of spatubs. A need continues to exist to provide useful lighting in spasystems.

SUMMARY

A spa fixture lighting system may include a wall-fitting nut having athreaded inner circumferential portion and an interior radial seat and alight source disposed on a light source seat selected from the groupconsisting of the interior radial seat, an exterior radial sidewall ofthe wall-fitting nut, or an exterior circumferential sidewall of thewall-fitting nut. The system may also include a spa shell wall engagedwith the wall-fitting nut, a wall fitting extending through the spashell wall and coupled to the wall-fitting nut, and a light reflectioncavity disposed between the wall-fitting nut, wall fitting and the spashell wall and positioned to receive light emitted by the light source.The light reflection cavity may be formed as a void or of a lighttransmissive material. In some embodiments, the system may include alight pipe in direct optical communication with the light reflectioncavity and extending through a spa shell wall so that light emitted fromthe light source and received by the light reflection cavity isintroduced to the light pipe for transmittance of the light through thelight pipe. In such embodiments, the light pipe may be the wall fittingengaged with the threaded inner circumferential portion and/or a lighttransmissive gasket disposed between the spa shell wall and the wallfitting. In other embodiments, the wall-fitting nut may have a pluralityof light emitting diode (LED) ports for receiving a respective pluralityof LEDs. The wall-fitting nut may also have an LED guide ramp adjacenteach respective LED port, each LED guide ramp having a sloping guidesurface configured to guide an LED directed through the LED port to facea radial interior of the wall-fitting nut.

A spa fixture lighting system assembly is also disclosed that has a spashell wall having a water side and a backside, a light transmissive wallfitting extending through the spa shell wall from the water side to thebackside, the light transmissive wall fitting having a circumferentialrecess, and a plurality of lights spaced circumferentially in thecircumferential recess. In some embodiments, the plurality of lights maybe spaced circumferentially immediately adjacent to the water sideand/or spaced circumferentially on a side of the light transmissive wallfitting that is opposite from the water side of the spa shell wall. Thelight transmissive wall fitting may be a spa shell grommet, and thesystem may include a spa fixture such as a jet or valve body seated inthe spa shell wall grommet with a compression fit so that thecompression fit provides the spa shell wall grommet with a compressionfit with the spa shell wall. In such embodiments, the lights may bespaced circumferentially about a longitudinal axis of the spa shellgrommet.

Another spa fixture lighting system is disclosed that includes a spashell wall having a water side and a backside, a wall fitting extendingthrough the spa shell wall, a wall-fitting coupler coupled to the wallfitting, the wall-fitting coupler having first and second innercircumferential portions, the second inner circumferential portionhaving a larger circumference than the first inner circumferentialportion, and an interior radial seat joining the first and secondcircumferential portions, and a light reflection cavity disposed betweenthe wall-fitting coupler, wall fitting, and spa shell wall so that lightprojected into the light reflection cavity is reflected within the lightreflecting cavity for more uniform redistribution of the light throughthe system. In some embodiments, the light reflection cavity includes anatmospheric void. In others, the light reflection cavity includes lighttransmissive plastic such as clear plastic. Other embodiments mayinclude a light source disposed in the light reflection cavity and maybe configured so that the light source is disposed on the interiorradial seat. Alternatively, the light source may be disposed on thesecond inner circumferential portion and the light source may include aplurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Each of the plurality of LEDsmay be disposed on a flexible disk, on an inner diameter of a flexiblering, or disposed on a respective flexible cable. If disposed on arespective flexible cable, then the wall-fitting nut may have aplurality of cable ports, with each of the plurality of cable portsaccepting a respective one of the plurality of flexible cables. In someembodiments, a light-transmissive gasket may be disposed between the spashell wall and wall fitting adjacent the light reflection cavity, sothat a portion of the light reflected by the wall fitting is transmittedthrough the light reflection cavity and into the light-transmissivegasket. Embodiments may also be configured so that the wall fittingincludes a light transmissive material so that a portion of the lightreflected by the wall fitting is transmitted through the lightreflection cavity and into the light-transmissive wall fitting. In anembodiment, a first light source may be disposed on an exterior radialsidewall of the wall-fitting nut, the exterior radial sidewall being ona side of the wall fitting opposite from the second innercircumferential portion. Such embodiment may also include a second lightsource disposed on an exterior circumferential sidewall of thewall-fitting nut, the second exterior side being on a side of the wallfitting opposite from the step portion, and may include a third lightsource spaced apart from the wall-fitting nut but directed toward thewall-fitting nut and wall fitting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a partial cutaway view illustrating one embodiment of a spafixture having a wall fitting coupled to a wall-fitting nut thatcollectively form a light reflection cavity for a light source disposedin the light reflection cavity;

FIG. 1B is cross sectional view of the area identified in FIG. 1;

FIG. 1C is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of thecomponents illustrated in FIG. 1B;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the spa fixture ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the light source disposed on a stepportion of the wall-fitting nut first illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial cutaway view illustrating another embodiment of thefixture having a light source disposed in a light reflection cavityformed by a wall-fitting nut coupled to a wall fitting;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the spa fixture ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the light source disposed on thewall-fitting nut first illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a partial cutaway view illustrating another embodiment of aspa fixture having a wall fitting coupled to a wall-fitting nut to forma light reflection cavity, and having a first and second light sourcesdisposed on an exterior surface of the wall-fitting nut and having athird light source projecting through the wall fitting;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the fixture of FIG.7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the first light source disposed on anexterior side of the wall-fitting nut;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the second light source disposed onanother exterior side of the wall-fitting nut;

FIG. 11 is another embodiment of a spa fixture having a light reflectioncavity formed between a wall-fitting nut and a wall fitting, with aplurality of LED lights extending into the light reflection cavitythrough respective LED ports;

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the fixture illustrated inFIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating the wall fitting firstillustrated in FIG. 11 and showing a plurality of LEDs on flexiblecables passing through respective cable ports into the light reflectioncavity;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a backside of the wallfitting nut and illustrating flexible cables passing through respectivecable ports;

FIG. 15 is a partial cutaway view illustrating another embodiment of astock fixture having a wall fitting coupled to a spa shell wall using awall fitting nut, and having a light source disposed between the wallfitting and spa shell;

FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of the fixture illustrated inFIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a partial cutaway view of another embodiment of a spa fixturehaving a light source disposed between a wall fitting and a reflectorshield;

FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of the fixture illustrated inFIG. 17;

FIGS. 19 and 20 are exploded perspective views of a one embodiment of aspa fixture assembly that has a light source seated on an interiorcircumference of a spa wall grommet;

FIG. 21 is a cross-section view of the spa fixture assembly illustratedin FIGS. 19 and 20;

FIG. 22 is a top plan view of the spa fixture assembly illustrated inFIGS. 19 and 20; and

FIGS. 23-26 illustrate another embodiment of a fixture assembly thatincludes a plurality of light sources disposed on exteriorcircumferential surfaces of a wall fixture nut and adjacent to the wallfixture nut, with the wall fixture nut having a solid-core lightreflection cavity;

FIG. 27 is an assembled perspective view of the assembly and componentsillustrated in FIGS. 24-26

FIGS. 28-30 illustrate one embodiment of a fixture assembly that uses alight reflection cavity embedded in a spa shell wall grommet fortransmission of diffused light through a spa shell wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A system is disclosed that provides for more uniform accent lighting ofa fixture extending through a spa shell wall. The inventive systemserves to diffuse light presented from discrete light sources located onthe backside of a spa shell wall for transmission to a front side of thespa shell wall to accent the perimeter or decorative top of a spafixture. The components of the system may include a wall-fitting couplersuch as a wall-fitting nut positioned on a back side of the spa shellwall or a spa shell wall grommet extending through the spa shell walland each forming an interior light reflection cavity. Light received inthe light reflection cavity diffuses the light for presentation to thefront side of the spa shell wall for a variety of spa fixtures requiringaccent lighting, including hydrotherapy jets, diverter valves and spacontrol panels.

FIG. 1A is a partial cutaway view of a fixture assembly that includes alight source disposed in a light reflection cavity to provide thefixture assembly with uniform accent lighting on the water side of a spashell wall. The spa fixture assembly 100 may have a fixture 105 that isthreadably coupled to a wall fitting 110, with the wall fitting 110sized to pass through a hole in a spa shell wall 115. The wall fitting110 may be coupled to the spa shell wall 115 by a wall-fitting couplersuch as a wall fitting nut 120 engaging with the spa shell wall 115. Alight transmissive gasket such as clear gasket 125 may be disposedbetween the wall fitting 110 and the spa shell wall 115 to provide awatertight seal and a light transmission path between them. A lightreflection cavity 127 may be defined by the volume encompassed by thewall-fitting nut 120, wall fitting 110, and the spa shell wall 115 sothat a portion of the light reflected by the wall-fitting nut 120 istransmitted through the light reflection cavity for further reflectioninto the clear gasket 125 for more uniform transmission of the lightfrom a backside 129 to a water side 131 of the spa shell wall 115.

FIG. 1B is a close-up perspective view of the area identified in FIG. 1Aas area 1B. The wall-fitting nut 120 may have a first threaded innercircumferential portion 130 and a second inner circumferential portion135 that is larger in diameter than the first threaded innercircumferential portion 130. A interior radial seat 140 (alternativelyreferred to as one embodiment of a “light source seat” or “innerdiameter (“ID”) recess”) extends between the first and second innerdiameter portions (130, 135) and may act as a light source seat for alight source 145 such as an LED or preferably a plurality of LEDs spacedapart circumferentially and affixed to a flexible disk to form an LEDstrip (see FIGS. 2, 3) that may support electrical connections betweenLEDs. The wall fitting 110 may be threadably coupled to the wall-fittingnut 120. Wall-fitting nut 120 is preferably opaque such as white PVCmaterial to act as a reflector for the light reflection cavity 127. Thewall-fitting nut 120 may also be of another color or material and may becovered with a reflective film or other reflecting body (not shown). Thewall fitting 110 is preferably formed a light transmissive material suchas clear plastic or may be opaque such as white plastic. The gasket 125is preferably formed of clear material to transmit light received fromthe light reflection cavity 127 or the light source 145. The wallfitting 110 and gasket 125 may collectively or individually be referredto as a light pipe to transmit light. In some embodiments, the gasket125 may be omitted from the fixture assembly 100. In an alternativeembodiment, the light reflecting cavity 127 may be partially orcompletely formed of or filled with a light-transmissive material suchas clear plastic or of plastic having a colored pigment rather thanbeing formed of an atmospheric void having air.

FIG. 1C illustrates another embodiment of a wall fitting coupler that isa wall-fitting nut 150 having an interior radial seat portion used tocreate a light reflection cavity. In this embodiment, an interior radialseat portion may be a concave reflective surface 155 and may act as botha light source seat and reflector for the light reflection cavity 127,fitting 110 and/or clear gasket 125. In further embodiments, rather thanforming a concave reflective surface, the interior radial seat portionmay be a planar reflective surface or non-planar reflective surface maybe used to better reflect light into the wall fitting 110 and/or cleargasket. A light source 160, such as a plurality of LEDs spaced apart andaffixed to a flexible disk, may be seated on the interior radial seatportion that may be in the form of a concave reflective surface 155. Thewall fitting 110 may be threadably coupled to the wall-fitting nut 150.The wall-fitting nut 150 is preferably opaque such as white PVCmaterial. The wall-fitting nut 150 may also be of another color ormaterial and may be covered with a reflective film or other reflectingbody (not shown). Although described in terms of a wall fitting nut 150,in other embodiments, the wall fitting coupler may be a component thatcouples with the wall fitting using a friction fit, such as a starwasher or its functional equivalent, or using a slip fit with adhesiveor compression, rather than coupling using threads.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the fixture assembly firstillustrated in FIG. 1A. A clear or white wall fitting 110 may be seatedon a clear L-shaped gasket 125 that provides a waterproof seat betweenthe wall fitting 110 and the spa shell wall 115. A transparent orsemi-transparent (i.e., color pigmented or neutral-density filtered)threaded cap 200 is threadably seated in the wall fitting 110 and mayreceive and transmit a portion of the light received from either theclear gasket 125 or clear wall fitting 110 or both. A decorative handle205 is coupled to the threaded cap 200. A valve body 210 may bethreadably coupled to the wall fitting 110, with the wall-fitting nut120 threadably coupled to the wall fitting 110 to hold the resultingassembly to the spa shell wall 115. The light source 145, such as theLED strip referenced in FIG. 3, may be seated in the interior radialseat 140 of the wall-fitting nut 120. In an alternative embodiment, theL-shaped gasket 125 may be omitted so that light emitted from the lightsource 145 is transmitted through the wall fitting 110.

FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of a wall fitting that has an LEDstrip seated on a step portion of a wall-fitting nut. The wall-fittingnut 120 may have a light source consisting of a plurality of LEDs 300spaced apart and affixed to a flexible disk 305 providing electricalcommunication between them to define an LED strip 310 disposed on theinterior radial seat 140 of the wall-fitting nut 120. The LED strip 310may be disposed on the interior radial seat 140 such as with anadhesive. In an alternative embodiment, the flexible disk 305 may beomitted and the LEDs seated directly on the interior radial seat 140.The wall-fitting nut may have the first and second inner circumferentialportions (130, 135) with the second inner circumferential portion 135having a larger circumference than the first inner circumferentialportion 130, and the interior radial seat 140 joining the first andsecond circumferential portions (130, 135). The first innercircumferential portion 130 may be a threaded inner circumferentialportion or may be smooth to facilitate adhesive joining. The portions ofthe interior radial seat 140 not otherwise covered by the LED strip 310may function in concert with the second circumferential portion 135 toestablish a light reflection cavity 127 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) when thewall-fitting nut 120 is seated on the spa wall (see FIGS. 1 and 2).Although the interior radial seat 140 is illustrated as perpendicular tothe first and second inner circumferential portions (130, 135), theinterior radial seat 140 may be formed as a lens, such as a concave orconical lens (not shown), to focus light emitted from the LED striptowards a center of the light reflection cavity. A light reflectionstrip may also be provided between the LEDs or disposed on one or bothof the second circumferential portion 135 or interior radial seat 140 toreflect light emitted by the LEDs back towards a center of the lightreflection cavity. A wall-fitting nut mating surface 325 is available toseat against a spa shell wall 115 (see FIGS. 1A and 1B). One or morenotches (not shown) may be provided to enable passthrough of powerwiring between interior and exterior portions of the wall-fitting nut120.

FIGS. 4-6 illustrate another embodiment of a fixture assembly thatincludes a light source disposed in a light reflection cavity, butunlike the longitudinal (L) light source arrangement illustrated inFIGS. 1-3, FIGS. 4-6 illustrate the light source emitting light in aradial (R) direction for reflection in the light reflection cavity todiffuse light transmitted through the spa wall. The spa fixture assembly400 may have a fixture 405 that may be threadably or adhesively coupledto the wall fitting 110, with the wall fitting 110 clamped against thespa shell wall 115 by the wall-fitting nut 120. The clear gasket 125 maybe disposed between the wall fitting 110 and the spa shell wall 115 toprovide a watertight seal and a light transmission path. A lightreflection cavity 410 may be defined by the volume encompassed by thewall-fitting nut 120, wall fitting 110, and the spa shell wall 115. Aplurality of LED lights 415 may be seated on a flexible ring 417 seatedon the second inner circumferential portion 320. A portion of the lightemitted by the LED lights 415 is reflected by the wall-fitting nut 120diffused throughout the light reflection cavity 410 for receipt andtransmission into the clear gasket 125 and or the clear wall fitting 110for more diffused and uniform transmission of the LED light past the spashell wall 115 and either through the transparent or semi-transparent(i.e., color pigmented or neutral-density filtered) threaded cap 200 orabout a perimeter of the fixture 405.

In an alternative embodiment, the second inner circumferential portion320 is structurally replaced with a step portion that is angled (seeFIG. 1C, step 160). For example, the second inner circumferentialportion 320 may be formed as a lens, such as a concave or conical lens,to focus light emitted from the LED strip towards a center of the lightreflection cavity. The wall fitting 110 is preferably formed of clearplastic or may be opaque such as white plastic if a clear gasket 125 isused. The gasket 125 is preferably formed of clear material to transmitlight received from the light reflection cavity 410 or the light source415 for more uniform transmission of the light from a backside 129 to awater side 131 of the spa shell wall 115. In an alternative embodiment,the light reflecting cavity 410 may be formed of a clear material suchas plastic rather than being formed of an atmospheric void.

FIGS. 7-10 illustrate an embodiment of a fixture assembly that includesa plurality of light sources disposed adjacent a light reflection cavityon exterior radial sidewall and circumferential sidewall of a wallfixture nut and also spaced apart from a wall fixture nut fortransmission of diffuse light through a spa wall. The spa fixtureassembly 700 may have a fixture 705 that may be threadably coupled orotherwise fixedly attached to a wall fitting 110 that is itself coupledto a spa shell wall 115 by a wall-fitting nut 120. The clear gasket 125may be disposed between the wall fitting 110 and the spa shell wall 115and adjacent a light reflection cavity 710 to provide both a watertightseal and light transmission path between them. The light reflectioncavity 710 may be defined by the volume encompassed by the wall-fittingnut 120, wall fitting 110, spa shell wall 115 and adjacent clear gasket125. A portion of the light introduced into the light reflection cavity710 is partially reflected by the wall fitting 110 for diffusionthroughout the light reflection cavity for further receipt andtransmission by the clear gasket 125 and wall fitting 110 past the spashell wall 115. The transparent or semi-transparent (i.e., colorpigmented or neutral-density filtered) threaded cap 200 is threadablyseated in the wall fitting 110 to receive and transmit a portion of thelight received from either the clear gasket 125 or clear wall fitting110 or both. The decorative handle 205 may be coupled to the threadedcap 200.

A first light source, such as flexible LED strip 715, may be disposed onan exterior radial sidewall 720 of the wall-fitting nut 120, theexterior radial sidewall 720 being on a side of the wall-fitting nutopposite from the second inner circumferential portion 320. A secondlight source 725 may be disposed on an exterior circumferential sidewall730 of the wall-fitting nut 120, the exterior circumferential sidewall730 being on a side of the wall-fitting nut generally opposite from theinterior radial seat illustrated in FIG. 1B. A third light source 740may be coupled to a circumferential channel 735 of the wall fitting 110.The third light source 740 is may be directed toward the wall-fittingnut 120 and remainder of the wall fitting 110 in a direction generallyaligned with the longitudinal axis (L) of the spa fixture assembly 700so that a portion of its emitted light may be received by andtransmitted through the wall fitting 110, through the light reflectioncavity 710, through the clear gasket 125 and either into the transparentor semi-transparent threaded cap 200 or to a front side of the spa shellwall to accent the perimeter or decorative top of a spa fixture.

FIGS. 11-14 illustrate an embodiment of a spa fixture having a lightreflection cavity formed between a wall-fitting nut and a wall fitting,with a plurality of LED lights extending into the light reflectioncavity through respective LED ports. A spa fixture assembly 1100 mayhave a fixture 1105 that is threadably coupled to a wall fitting 1110that is itself coupled to a spa shell wall 115 by a wall-fitting nut1115. A light transmissive gasket such as clear gasket 125 may bedisposed between the wall fitting 1110 and the spa shell wall 115 toprovide a watertight seal and light transmission path between them. Alight reflection cavity 1120 may be defined by the volume encompassed bythe wall-fitting nut 1115, wall fitting 1110, and the spa shell wall 115so that a portion of the light reflected by the wall-fitting nut 1115 isdiffused within the light reflection cavity 1120 for receipt andtransmission through the clear gasket 125 for more uniform transmissionof the light past the spa shell wall 115. One or more flexible cables1125 may be introduced into the light reflection cavity 1120 through arespective one or more cable ports 1130.

As seen more clearly in FIG. 13, positioning of each flexible cable 1125and associated LED 1135 through each cable port 1130 is facilitated by arespective LED guide ramp 1140 that a sloping guide surface configuredto guide an LED directed through the LED port to face a radial interiorof the wall-fitting nut 1115. LED clips 1145 (FIG. 14) may also beprovided to further secure each flexible cable.

FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate one embodiment of one or more light sourcesdisposed on a water side of the spa shell wall for presentation to, anddiffusion within, a wall fitting, for diffusion of the light prior tointroduction to the water side of a spa shell wall. The spa fixtureassembly 1500 may have a fixture 1505 that is threadably coupled to awall fitting 1510 that is itself coupled to a spa shell wall 115 by awall-fitting coupler such as a wall-fitting nut 1515. A flexible disk1520 may be seated or otherwise attached to a circumferential recess1525 on a side of the wall fitting 1510 immediately adjacent to thewater side 131 of the spa shell wall 115, with a light source such as anLED, or preferably, a plurality of LEDs 1600 spaced apart and affixed tothe flexible disk 1520 to form an LED strip 1605 seatedcircumferentially in the circumferential recess 1525. In an alternativeembodiment, the flexible disk 1605 may be omitted and the plurality ofLEDs 1600 seated directly in the circumferential recess 1525 or may beinjected molded directly into the wall fitting 1510 to extendcircumferentially about the wall fitting 1510 adjacent the water side131 of the spa shell wall 115. The wall fitting 1510 may be formed oflight transmissive material such as clear plastic to receive andtransmit or partially diffuse light emitted from the LEDs 1600. Athreaded cap 1530 may be threadably seated in the wall fitting 1510. Areflector shield 1535 may be provided within an interior of a handlesuch as diverter handle 1540 to reflect received light back to the wallfitting 1510 for transmission out the side of the wall fitting 1510 toadjacent the spa shell wall 115 thus creating a decorative diffusedlight about a perimeter of the spa fixture assembly 1500. The diverterhandle 1540 may be configured to actuate an interior valve (not shown)in the jet body 1610.

FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrate another embodiment of one or more lightsources disposed on a water side of the spa shell wall for presentationto, and diffusion within, a wall fitting, for diffusion of the lightprior to introduction to the water side of a spa shell wall. The spafixture assembly 1700 may have the fixture 1505 illustrated in FIG. 15that is threadably coupled to a wall fitting 1705 that is itself coupledto the spa shell wall 115 by the wall-fitting nut 1515. A flexible disk1710, similar in configuration to the flexible disk 1520 illustrated inFIG. 15, may be seated or otherwise attached to an interiorcircumference 1715 of the wall fitting 1705 to provide a plurality ofLEDs 1800 that spaced apart and affixed to the flexible disk 1710 toform an LED strip 1805 disposed circumferentially about the wallfitting. In an alternative embodiment, the flexible disk 1710 may beomitted and the plurality of LEDs 1800 seated directly in thecircumferential recess 1715. The wall fitting 1705 may be formed oftransparent material such as clear plastic to receive and transmit orpartially diffuse light emitted from the LEDs 1800. The threaded cap1530 may be threadably seated in the wall fitting 1705. The reflectorshield 1535 may be provided within the interior of the diverter handle1540 to reflect received light back to the wall fitting 1705 fortransmission out the side of the wall fitting 1705 to adjacent the waterside 131 of the spa shell wall 115 thus creating a decorative diffusedlight about a perimeter of the spa fixture assembly 1700.

FIGS. 19-22 illustrate a spa fixture assembly that may be illuminated bya light source seated on an interior circumference of a spa shellgrommet. A light source such as an LED, or preferably, a plurality ofLEDs 1900 spaced apart and affixed to a flexible disk 1905 to form anLED strip 1910, is seated or otherwise attached to an interiorcircumference of a spa wall fitting that may be in the form of a spashell grommet 1915. The LED strip 1910 may preferably be disposed in acircumferential recess 1920 of the grommet 1915 such as with anadhesive. In an alternative embodiment, the flexible disk 1905 may beomitted and the plurality of LEDs 1900 seated directly in thecircumferential recess 1920. Access to the circumferential recess may beprovided with a slot 1923. The spa shell grommet 1915 may be insertedinto a spa shell wall (not shown) with a friction fit, an adhesive, orotherwise to receive a jet body 1925. The jet body 1925 may be fixedlyattached to the spa shell grommet 1915 with a friction fit, adhesive orotherwise. The jet body 1925 and spa shell grommet 1915 are eachpreferably formed of clear or color pigmented plastic for transmissionand diffusion of light emitted from the LED strip 1910. For example,light emitted from the LEDs 1900 may be presented to and received by thejet body 1925. A portion of the light may be reflected by the jet body1925 or reflected back out of the jet body 1925 for introduction into aninterior of the spa shell grommet 1915. In one embodiment, the spa shellgrommet 1915 may be white (opaque) plastic and the jet body 1925 formedof material that is to be wholly (or in part) light transmissive such asclear or color pigmented plastic. In an alternative embodiment, the jetbody 1925 may be another component that extends through the spa shellwall (not shown), such as a valve, air control panel, or suctionfitting.

In an alternative embodiment of FIG. 23, the LED strip 1910 may bedisposed on an exterior circumferential surface of the spa shell grommet1915 (configuration not shown) so that light emitted from the lightsource is transmitted through the spa shell grommet 1915 for receipt andfurther transmission by the jet body 1925. In such an embodiment, theflexible disk 1905 of the LED strip 1910 may be configured as areflector to reflect light back towards an interior of the spa shellgrommet 1915 for more complete diffusion and presentation of emittedlight to the jet body 1925. For example, once the emitted light isintroduced into the spa shell grommet 1915, a portion of the light maybe reflected internally, resulting in further diffusion of the lightprior to its emission out of the spa shell grommet 1915. In a furtherembodiment, the individual LED's 1900 (or individual LED's disposed on asubstrate) are disposed on an axial bottom surface 1926 of the spa shellgrommet 1915 for transmission through the spa shell grommet 1915 forreceipt and further transmission by the jet body 1925.

FIGS. 23-27 illustrate another embodiment of a fixture assembly thatincludes a plurality of light sources disposed on exteriorcircumferential surfaces and adjacent a wall fixture nut, with the wallfixture nut having a solid-core light reflection cavity, rather than alight reflection cavity having a void, for transmission of diffuse lightthrough a spa wall. The spa fixture assembly 2300 may have a fixture2305 that may be threadably coupled or otherwise fixedly attached to awall fitting 2307 that is itself coupled to a spa shell wall 115 by awall-fitting nut 2309. The clear gasket 125 may be disposed between thewall fitting 2307 and the spa shell wall 115 and adjacent an interior ofthe wall-fitting nut 2309 to define a light reflection cavity 2310 toprovide both a watertight seal and light transmission path between them.The light reflection cavity 2310 may be defined by the solid-core volumeencompassed by the wall-fitting nut 2309, wall fitting 2307, spa shellwall 115 and adjacent clear gasket 125. A portion of the lightintroduced into the light reflection cavity 2310 is partially reflectedby the wall fitting 2307 for diffusion throughout the light reflectioncavity 2310 for further receipt and transmission by the clear gasket 125and wall fitting 2307 past the spa shell wall 115. The transparent orsemi-transparent (i.e., color pigmented or neutral-density filtered)threaded cap 200 may be threadably seated in the wall fitting 2307 toreceive and transmit a portion of the light received from either theclear gasket 125 or clear wall fitting 2307 or both. The decorativehandle 205 may be coupled to the threaded cap 200.

A first light source, such as a flexible LED strip 2315, may be disposedon a first exterior side 2320 of the wall-fitting nut 2309. A secondlight source 2325 may be disposed on a second exterior side 2330 of thewall-fitting nut 2309. A third light source 2335 may be coupled to acircumferential channel 2340 and spaced apart from the wall-fitting nut2039 but directed toward the wall-fitting nut 2309 and remainder of thewall fitting 2307 so that a portion of its emitted light may be receivedby and transmitted through the wall fitting 2307, through the lightreflection cavity 2310 and either into the transparent orsemi-transparent threaded cap 200 or out adjacent to the fixture 2305.

FIGS. 28-30 illustrate another embodiment of spa shell wall grommet(also see FIGS. 19-22) for use in a fixture assembly that has a lightreflection cavity for transmission of diffuse light through a spa shellwall. A light transmissive wall fitting such as a spa shell wall grommet2800 may extend through the spa shell wall 115 between the water side131 to the backside 129. A plurality of lights 2805 may be spacedcircumferentially within a circumferential recess 2810 of the grommet2800 on a side of the spa shell wall grommet 2800 that extends from thebackside 129 of the spa shell wall 115. In the present embodiment, theplurality of lights 2805 may be introduced into or accessed from thecircumferential recess 2810 either through a grommet sidewall diagonalslot 2900, grommet sidewall diagonal port 2905 or grommet side wallvertical port 2910 that each extend from an exterior side 2915 of thespa shell wall grommet 2800 into the circumferential recess 2810.

While various implementations of the application have been described, itwill be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many moreembodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scopeof this invention.

We claim:
 1. A spa fixture lighting system, comprising: a spa fixtureconfigured for seating in a grommet with a first friction fit; whereinsaid grommet is configured to extend through a spa shell wall with asecond friction fit, and wherein said grommet is configured to transmitlight from a light source.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the lightsource is disposed on the grommet.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein thegrommet is a light transmissive grommet configured to transmit lightfrom the light source.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the lightsource comprises a plurality of lights.
 5. The system of claim 4,wherein each light of the plurality of lights is spacedcircumferentially about a longitudinal axis of the grommet.
 6. Thesystem of claim 4, wherein the plurality of lights are disposed on atleast one of: a flexible disk, a flexible ring, and a flexible cable. 7.The system of claim 1, wherein the light source is disposed on an axialbottom surface of said grommet.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein saidgrommet comprises a plurality of holes along an axial bottom surface ofsaid grommet.
 9. A spa fixture lighting system, comprising: a grommetfor extending through a spa shell wall with a first friction fit; saidgrommet configured to transmit light from a light source; and a spafixture for extending through the spa shell wall, the spa fixtureconfigured for seating in the grommet with a second friction fit,wherein at least a portion of the spa fixture comprises a clearmaterial.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the light source isdisposed on the grommet.
 11. The system of claim 9, wherein the grommetis a light transmissive grommet configured to transmit light from thelight source.
 12. The system of claim 9, wherein the light sourcecomprises a plurality of lights.
 13. The system of claim 12, whereineach light of the plurality of lights is spaced circumferentially abouta longitudinal axis of the grommet.
 14. The system of claim 12, whereinthe plurality of lights are disposed on at least one of: a flexibledisk, a flexible ring, and a flexible cable.
 15. The system of claim 9,wherein the light source is disposed on an axial bottom surface of saidgrommet.
 16. The system of claim 9, wherein said grommet comprises aplurality of holes along an axial bottom surface of said grommet.
 17. Aspa fixture lighting system, comprising: a grommet for extending througha spa shell wall with a first friction fit; said grommet configured totransmit light from a light source; and a spa fixture for extendingthrough the spa shell wall, the spa fixture configured for seating inthe grommet with a second friction fit, wherein at least a portion ofthe spa fixture comprises a color pigmented material.
 18. The system ofclaim 17, wherein the light source is disposed on the grommet.
 19. Thesystem of claim 17, wherein the grommet is a light transmissive grommetconfigured to transmit light from the light source.
 20. The system ofclaim 17, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of lights. 21.The system of claim 20, wherein each light of the plurality of lights isspaced circumferentially about a longitudinal axis of the grommet. 22.The system of claim 20, wherein the plurality of lights are disposed onat least one of: a flexible disk, a flexible ring, and a flexible cable.23. The system of claim 17, wherein the light source is disposed on anaxial bottom surface of said grommet.
 24. The system of claim 17,wherein said grommet comprises a plurality of holes along an axialbottom surface of said grommet.